Weekly Announcements

In chronological order:  Walker events & meetings (all at the church unless noted otherwise)

& Public Events organized by others that will be held at Walker.

 

Christmas Eve at Walker Church

Thursday, December 24, at 4 pm

Music before Service: Christmas Carols played by Tony Wentersdorf

Reading 1: by Russell Schwelkart, astronaut, read by Mary Buckley

Music: “A World Without Boundaries”  by Jane Parker Huber

duet by Nancy and Steve Gehrenbeck-Miller

Poetry Reading: “The Little Nation” by Jessica Powers,

read by Deb Ramage

*Congregation sings: Joy to the World!” verses 1, 2 and 4

                                    Sally Kuehn, accompanist

*Unison Prayer:  (Mary Buckley) We thank you, Holy One, for bringing us inner peace. Our minds are filled with peace as the noon day is filled with light. Around our heads is the eternal quiet of the stars. In our hearts dwells the calm miracle of life. We are content. In all our being, there is no ripple of unrest. Thank you, Holy One.  Amen.

Lighting the Four Candles of Advent: “The World’s Desire”

            by G. K. Chesterton, sung by Jim McCreary and Mary Parker

Reading 2: Luke 2: 1 – 7  read by David West

Music:   Janet Skidmore and Kent Eklund

Reading 3: Luke 2: 8 – 20

Music: “First Night of Life”   by Jim Feldman

Reading 4: Matthew 2: 1 – 12

Music: “Shining the Christmas Star”  by Howard Kranz

Reading 5: “Contentment” by Gail Rixen, read by Becky Hanson

Music: “O Magnum Mysterium”   Walker Singers

Christmas Message: Pastor Walter Lockhart

Lighting the Christ Candle: Nancy Larson

Passing the Light of Christ

Congregation sings: “Silent Night”

Merry Christmas! Come and join our Christmas feast upstairs!

 

Christmas Eve at Simpson Church

Thursday, December 24 at 8 pm

 Many people from Walker will be leading service of Christmas lessons and carols at Simpson UMC, 2740 1st Ave South.  The guests of the homeless shelter will be invited to join the church community for a traditional Christmas Eve service with cookies and cider in the parlor.

 

Women’s Potluck Brunch:  Sat, Dec 26, 9:30 am at Kristine Smith’s home, 2536 29th Av S.  FFI Kristine 612-220-5212.

 Men’s Group Potluck Brunch:  Sat, Dec 26, 9:30 am at a home.  FFI Howard Kranz

 

Sunday Celebration

December 27, 2015

Greetings by Carole Megarry

Communal Singing led by Janet Skidmore

Communal Reading:  Our mission is to nurture spirituality, build caring community & work courageously for peace with justice and mercy.

Opening Smudge by Greg Garman

Lao Tzu # 27 followed by 5 minutes of silence

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.

A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.

A good scientist has freed herself of concepts and keeps her mind open to what is.

Thus the Master is available to all people and doesn’t reject anyone.

They are ready to use all situations and don’t waste anything.

This is called embodying the light.

What is a good person but a bad person’s teacher?

What is a bad person but a good person’s job?

If you don’t understand this, you will get lost, however intelligent you are.

It is the great secret.

Poetry by Jesse Watkins

Welcome, Announcements & Offering

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:41-52 by Nancy Larsen

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.  When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  But they did not understand what he said to them.  Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Sermon by Pastor Walter Lockhart

Special Performance by Anne Hamre

Circle with Joys & Concerns & sharing of bread & juice brought by Anne Hamre

Hospitality Time

Thanks for set-up by the Hospitality Committee,

 

Bluegrass Music Jam:  Mon, Dec 28, 7 to 9 pm.  FFI Roy Vanderwerf revanster@gmail.com

 Community Meal:  Tues, Dec 29, Meal 5:30 to 6:45 coordinated by Walter.

 Walker Kitchen Cleaning:  Sat Jan 2, 9:30am – 1pm.  Help clean and organize kitchen shelves, equipment and inventory.  Many hands make light work!  Lunch provided. Contact Sarah Elizabeth 612 386-4517

 Other Announcements

 Becky Hanson is collecting donations for refugees for the International Institute of Minnesota.  Bring your donations to her front porch, 3700 36th Avenue South. FFI Becky 651-278-3897.

International Institute of Minnesota. 1694 Como Avenue (just west of Snelling & Como) St. Paul, MN 55108
Drop off times: 8:45am – 5pm Monday-Friday

Minnesota is one of the states accepting Syrian refugees. There are refugees (from all over the world) on their way to MN as we speak! The International Institute of Minnesota is helping to coordinate their arrival and gathering items that will make it a tiny bit easier.  Here’s what they need:

Baby Items: New Diapers & Wipes, gently used & laundered Baby clothes

Winter Clothing: Coats Boots Gloves, Hats, Scarves

Household Items: Dishes, Glassware, Silverware, Tea kettles, New Garbage cans, Garbage bags, Gently used laundered Bed linens, Blankets, Towels & Dish towels, Vacuums Laundry baskets

School Supplies: Pencils Calculators Pens Notebooks Folders Crayons Backpacks

Other Items: Maps of Mpls, St Paul Gift Cards (only to Cub Foods, Target, Goodwill) Bus Cards
 

On-going Groups & Events FFI office@walkerchurch.org

Sunday Celebration & Children’s Sunday 10:30 am every Sunday.  FFI

Sunday Meditation Group 8:45 to 10 am every Sunday FFI Tony Wentersdorf

Monday Morning Coffee Gatherings10 am at Lake Street Coffee, 3223 East Lake St.

Walker Singers rehearse Tuesdays 7 to 8 pm. FFI Jim McCreary

Community Meals Tuesdays 5:30 to 6:45 pm.

Women’s Potluck Brunch is held the 4th Saturday of each month at 9:30 am at someone’s home.  FFI Lulu Philips

Men’s Group Potluck Brunch is held the 2nd Saturday of each month at 9:30 in the conference room & the 4th Saturday of each month at someone’s home.  FFI Howard Kranz

Initiates meet the 3rd Sunday of each month 8:15 to 10:15 am in the conference room.  FFI Lou Tofte or Howard Kranz

Autoharp Jams are held the 2nd Sunday of each month 1 to 3 pm.  FFI Tony Wentersorf

Hoop Twin Cities meets Wednesdays 7 to 8 pm.  Hoola hooping for all ages, free.  FFI hoopjeans@gmail.com

Rosen Movement meets Wednesdays 9 am to 10 am in the sanctuary.  FFI Phyllis Wiener wiernerphyllis@gmail.com

Sarah Dagg Massage is usually scheduled for 2 to 4 days each month. sdagg@crosslake.net

Bluegrass Music Jams are held the last Monday of each month 7 to 9 pm.  FFI Roy Vanderwerf revanster@gmail.com